Immigration law to impact families visiting South Africa
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A new immigration law set to be introduced in South Africa on 1 June is set to impact foreign families visiting the country with children aged under 18.
The law requires minors to travel with an Unabridged Birth Certificate, which is an official document with both parents’ names and the child’s name.
The new law is being introduced by the South African government in an effort to combat child trafficking.
The South Africa Tourism Board has issued a set of guidelines for families and tour groups with children visiting the country, as follows:
Where both Parents are travelling with the child: a certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate – showing the particulars of the parents of the child.
Where one parent is travelling with the child: a certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate.
Consent from non-travelling parent named on the birth certificate. (This document needs to be certified (i.e. Lawyer / Commissioner of Oaths / Police Station / Post office)
– Included on this consent form: Name, telephone number and particulars non-travelling parent names on birth certificate.
Address of non-travelling parent and certified copy of passport (or drivers licence, or if none of the above are available a certified council tax bill showing the same address as listed on consent form).
Arrival and departure dates from South Africa.
With divorced families travelling: If one parent has sole custody: the court order of such sole custody is needed. Permission would not be needed from the other parent as the court order would have granted full parental responsibilities and rights to sole custodian
– A certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate.
Other cases
A certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate
Where applicable: A certified death certificate of the other parent or parents registered on the birth certificate as well as proof of current custodianship of such minor children (certified documents)
School Groups: & Travelling with non-biological children
A certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate
A letter of consent with certified copies of passports / drivers or other ID documents giving the details of the School trip, who the named teacher/s are. Full names of the parents registered on the birth certificate. (This document needs to be certified (i.e. Lawyer / Commissioner of Oaths / Police Station / Post office)
Each child needs to have the full itinerary with their details and where they are staying with full address.
Contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child included on the letter of consent.
Unaccompanied Minor
Proof of consent from one or both parents or legal guardian in the form of a certified letter that the child may travel to or depart from the Republic. Provided that in the case where one parent provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of the court order issued in this regard. This is to include contact details of parents or legal Guardian.
A letter from the person who is to receive the child in South Africa, containing their residential address and contact details.
A certified copy of the Identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in South Africa.
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